Running-in tool for wells

ABSTRACT

A running-in tool for placing a flow control device in a section of a pipe installed in a well comprises a carrier connected by shear pins to the flow control device and adapted to be lowered into the well pipe, together with a collet encircling a portion of the carrier and connected thereto by additional shear pins. The collet is provided with a series of axially extending spring fingers each having a portion adapted to engage an internal shoulder provided in the well pipe. The flow control device also has axially extending spring fingers for engagement with an internal recess in the well pipe. The collet has an inverted tapered bowl proportioned to receive the upper end of most of the spring fingers of the flow control device to hold them in a retracted inoperative position, the remaining spring fingers being shorter and held in the inoperative position by posts on the collet extending below the bowl.

United States Patent Radig et a].

[54]. RUNNING-IN TOOL FOR WELLS [72] Inventors: Gary A. Radig, Lakewood;Oliva A. Rowell, Jr., Long Beach, both of Calif; Harvey R. Edwards,Beirut, Lebanon [73] Assignee: Cook Testing Co., Long Beach,

Calif. 1

[22] Filed: April6, 1971 [21] Appl. No.1 131,605

{52] US. Cl ..l66/214 51 Int. (:1. ..'.'.....E21b 23/00 1581 Field ofSearch ...l66/206, 214

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,871,947 2/1959 Fredd..l66/214 2,908,333 10/1959 Schwab ..l66/206 3,073,392 1/1963 Dinning etal. "166/214 3,507,329 4/1970 Stone, Jr ..166/214 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 676,042 12/1963 Canada ..l66/206 [15] 3,698,477 1451 Oct.17, 1972 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Attorney-Lyon & Lyon [57]ABSTRACT A running-in tool for placing a flow control device in asection of a pipe installed in a well comprises a carrier connected byshear pins to the flow control device and adapted to be lowered into thewell pipe, together with a collet encircling a portion. of the carrierand connected thereto by additional shear pins. The collet is providedwith a series of axially extending spring fingers each having a portionadapted to engage an internal shoulder provided in the well pipe. Theflow control device also has axially extending spring fingers forengagement with an internal recess in the well pipe; The collet has aninverted tapered bowl proportioned to receive the upper end of most ofthe spring fingers of the flow control device to hold them in aretracted inoperative position, the remaining spring fingers beingshorter and held in the inoperative position by posts on the colletextending below the bowl.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnm 1 7 I972 v 3698.477

sum 3 or 3 NVENTORS.

BYHAEI/EVEB eon/A25;

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ATTOE/VfVS RUNNING-IN TOOL FOR WELLS This invention relates to welltools and is particularly directed to a running-in tool for placing aflow control device, such as a valve assembly, at a predeterminedlocation in a pipe installed in a well. As an example, such a running-intool may be employed on a wire line for lowering a valve assemblythrough a string of tubing installed in the well to anchor it at apredetermined location in the tubing, and then to permit disconnectionso that the running-in tool may be withdrawn upward out of the tubing.Subsequently,.the valve assembly may be removed from the well, ifdesired, by an overshot type of tool which first releases the anchoringconnection and is then employed to lift the valve assembly out of thetubing. v t

Conventional running-in tools for placing a flow control device, such asa valve assembly, in a predetermined position in a well tubing have beenused in connection with an anchoring device attached to the valveassembly, which anchoring device engages an internal recess in aparticular section of the welltubing placed at the desired level in thewell. Downward movement of the valve assembly ceases when the anchoringdevice engages the internal recess in the tubing, and further downwardmovement of the running-in tool shears the pins which attach it to thevalve assembly. The runningin tool is then withdrawn upwardly to thesurface, leaving the valve assembly anchored in place.

A difficulty arises in such conventional practice when it is desired towithdraw the valve assembly from its position on the well, because theretrieval tool must first release the anchoring device and then be ableto lift the valve assembly out of the tubing string. The anchoringdevice commonly comprises a circular series of spring fingers which moveoutward to engage. the internal recess in the tubing. A retrieval toolof the ove'rshot type must retract the spring fingers radially inwardfrom their engagement with the recess and at the same time develop aconnection to the spring fingers sufficiently reliable to withdraw thevalve assembly from the tubing. In actual practice, it has been foundthat withdrawal of the valve assembly may be hindered by release of thespring fingers of the anchor device before the retrieval tool obtains anadequate grip upon them, with the result that the anchor device isreleased but the valve assembly is simply pushed down through the tubingby failure of the retrieval tool to complete its connection to the valveassembly for lifting it upward.

A feature of the present invention is to prevent unwanted downwardmovement of the valve assembly during the retrieval operation and toinsure that the anchor device does not release until after the retrievaltool is solidly connected to withdraw the valve assembly. This in turnrequires a modification of the anchoring device, and this invention isdirected to an improved form of running-in tool for setting suchanchoring device in well tubing In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation showing the parts at the end of therunning-in operation.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1, the carrier and flowcontrol device having been moved downward with respect to the collet.

FIG. 3 is a similar view of the carrier, collet and flow control devicehaving been moved upward almost to anchored position.

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the carrier and collet being lifted outof the well pipe following fracture of the shear pinsconnectingthecarrier to he flow control device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation showing the flow control device inposition in the well pipe, and showing the action of a retrieval toolfor disconnecting the flow control device from thewell pipe andsubsequently lifting the flow control device back to the surface.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on thelines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the lines8-8 as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to the .drawings, the well pipe or tubing string generallydesignated 10 comprises a plurality of sections 11 connected end-to-endby threaded couplings 12. One'of the tubing sections 13 isprovided withan internal downward facing shoulder 14 and an internal annular recess15. The tubing section 13 is also provided with a side port 16communicating by way of fitting 17 with the lower end of a control pipe18.

A flow control device generally designated 20 may comprise a valveassembly of any suitable or desirable type. One form of such valveassembly is shown in the copending application of Gary A. Radig, Ser.No. 1 10,078 filed Jan. 27, I97], and entitled Rotary Ball Valve forWells. This flow control device 20 is provided with anchor meansgenerally designated 21 and including a series of spring fingers 22 eachhaving a lug 23 fixed thereon. The upper end of each spring finger 22 isbevelled at an angle as shown at 24, and each spring finger has an outerserrated portion 25. Two spring fingers 26 are shorter than the others.Their upper ends are bevelled as shown at 27, and each is provided witha lug 28.

A running-in tool generally designated 31 may be lowered into the tubing10 on a wire line (not shown), and this tool includes a carrier 32. anda collet 34 encircling a portion of the carrier. Shear pins 35 connectthe carrier to the collet and shear pins 36 connect the carrier to theflow control device 20. The collet 34 has an inverted bowl 38 shaped toreceive the bevelled upper ends of the spring fingers 22 and to holdthem in a radially retracted inoperative position. Downward extendingposts 39on the collet 34 project below the bowl 38 and contact the upperbevelled ends of the short spring fingers 26 to hold them in retractedinoperative position. Another series of spring fingers 41 is provided onthe collet 34. These spring fingers 41 are duplicates and each isprovided with atapered upper end 42, a lu'g 43 for contact with theshoulder 14, and a bridging fin 44 adapted -to be received in theclearance space 45 in the tubing section 13.

The running-in. tool 31 and the flow control device 20 are connected,fasshown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and are lowered into the tubing 10 on awire line. The spring fingers 22 and 26 remain in a retractedinoperative'position and hence do not contact the interior of the tubing10. The spring fingers 41 on the collet 34, however, drag through theinterior of the tubing 10, but the lugs 43 are prevented from hanging upin the recesses between ends of adjacent tubing section by means of thebridging fins 44. When the spring fingers 41 on the collet reach thetubing section 13, the lugs 43 expand radially outward and engage theshoulder 14. The clearance recess 45 provides clearance for the bridgingfins 44. Downward movement of the collet 34 is arrested when the lugs 43engage the shoulder 14. The parts are then in the position shown in FIG.1 of the drawings.

Downward force is then applied by jars (not shown) to move the carrier32 downward to shear the pins 35 and move the flow control device 20 tothe position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the spring fingers 22 arereleased from the bowl 38 and the spring fingers 26 are released fromthe downward extending posts 39; the lugs 23 and 28 spring radiallyoutward into engagement with the inner surface of the tubing section 13.

Transverse coil spring 47 mounted in bore 48 in the carrier 32 acts onopposite ends against followers 49 to push the fractured inner ends ofthe shear pins 35 into contact with the inner surface 50 of the collet34. This prevents any substantial upward movement of the carrier 32 withrespect to the collet 34. Downward movement of the carrier 32 withrespect to the collet 34 is limited by engagement of the shoulder 51 onthe carrier 32 with the abutment 52 on the collet 34.

After the spring fingers 22 and 26 have been released to move outwardinto contact with the interior surface of the tubing section 13, asshown in FIG. 2, the carrier 32 is raised to lift the flow controldevice 20 until the lugs 23 on the spring fingers 22 and the lugs 28 onthe spring fingers 26 all engage within the internal recess in thetubing section 13. During this lifting operation, the spring fingers 41on the collet 34 slide upward within the tubing 10 because the bevelledsurfaces 42 slide over obstructions within the tubing and deflect thespring fingers 41 radially inward.

When the lugs 23 and 28 are seated within the recess 15, the flowcontrol device is anchored within the tubing 10 at the desiredelevation. The running-in tool 31 is then lifted upward to shear thepins 36 connecting it to the flow control device 20. The running-in tool31, including the carrier 32 and collet 34, is then lifted upward out ofthe tubing, leaving the flow control device 20 anchored in place. Theposition of the parts just after shearing of the pins 36 is shown inFIG. 4.

If for any reason it should be desired to remove the flow control device20 from the tubing 10, an overshot retrieval tool 55, as shown in FIG.5, is lowered into the tubing 10 on a wire line. This retrieval tool 55has an internally serrated socket 56 at its lower end, and the socket isopen at the bottom. Downward jarring movement of the retrieval tool 55causes the socket 56 to be telescoped over the upper serrated ends ofthe spring fingers 22, thereby moving them radially inward to retractthe lugs 23 out of the recess 15. However, the socket 56 does not engagethe short spring fingers 26, and these continue to offer resistance todownward movement of the flow control device 20 by reason of engagementof the lugs 28 with the lower edge of the recess 15. Thus, the retrievaltool 55 may be jarred to insure full entry of the upper ends of thespring fingers 22 into the socket 56 without danger of driving the flowcontrol device 20 down the interior of the tubing 10. When the socket 56has telescoped completely over the upper ends of the spring fingers 22,the connection between'the retrieval tool 55 and flow control device 20has been completed. The retrieval tool 55 is then lifted upward and thebevelled surfaces 27 on the two short spring fingers 26 slide overobstructions on the way out of the tubing.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we arenot to be limited to the details herein set forth but that our inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a running-in tool for placing a flow control device in a sectionof a pipe installed in a well, the pipe section having an upward facinginternal shoulder and an axially spaced internal recess, the improvementcomprising, in combination: a collet having a plurality of axiallyextending spring fingers, each of the spring fingers having a portionthereof adapted to engage and rest on the shoulder, a carrier extendingthrough the interior of the collet, an abutment on the carrierunderlying a portion of the collet, second releasable means connectingthe carrier to the collet, second releasable means connecting thecarrier to the flow control device for engagement with the recess in thepipe section, means on the collet for maintaining the expansible supportmeans in retracted inoperative position while lowering the carrier,collet and flow control device into position in the well pipe, wherebydownward movement of the collet is arrested by engagement of the springfinger portions with the shoulder so that continued downward movement ofthe carrier releases said first releasable means, and disengages theexpansible support means from said collet, subsequent upward movement ofthe carrier serving to lift the flow control device to permit saidexpansible support means to engage within the recess in the pipesection, and continued upward movement of the carrier serving to releasesaid second releasable means and permit upward withdrawal of therunning-in tool from the well pipe.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the said firstreleasable means comprises a plurality of radially extending shear pinseach fixed on the collet and spring-loaded radially outwardly on saidcarrier.

3. In a running-in tool for placing a flow control device in a sectionof a pipe installed in a well, the pipe section having an upward facinginternal shoulder and an axially spaced internal recess, the improvementcomprising, in combination: a collet having a plurality of upwardextending spring fingers, each of the spring fingers having a lugadapted to engage and rest on the shoulder in the pipe section, acarrier extending through the interior of the collet, an abutment on thecarrier underlying a portion of the collet, first frangible meansconnecting the carrier to the collet, second frangible means connectingthe carrier to the flow control device, expansible support means on thefiow control device for engagement with the recess in the pipe section,means on the collet for maintaining the expansible support means inretracted inoperative position while lowering the carrier, collet andflow control device into position in the well pipe, whereby downwardmovement of the collet is arrested by engagement of the lugs with theshoulder so that continued downward movement of the carrier breaks saidfirst frangible means and releases the expansible support means fromsaid collet, subsequent upward movement of the carrier serving to liftthe flow control device to permit said expansible support means toengage within the recess in the pipe section, and continued upwardmovement of the carrier serving to break said second frangible means andpermit withdrawal of the running-in tool upward from the well pipe.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the expansible supportmeans includes a circular series of spring fingers each having a lugportion engageable within the recess, certain of said spring fingers insaid series extending axially beyond their respective lug portions, thecollet having an inverted tapered bowl for confining the extendingportions of said spring fingers in said retracted inoperative position,and downward projecting elements on said collet extending below saidinverted bowl for contacting and maintaining certain others of saidspring fingers in said retracted inoperative position.

5. In a running-in tool for placing a flow control device in a sectionof a pipe installed in a well, the pipe section having an upward facinginternal shoulder, the improvement comprising, in combination: a collethaving a plurality of upward extending spring fingers, each of thespring fingers having a lug adapted to engage and rest on the shoulderin the pipe section, a carrier extending through the interior of thecollet, an abutment on the carrier underlying a portion of the collet,first frangible means connecting the carrier to the collet, secondfrangible means connecting the carrier to the flow control device,expansible support means on the flow control device for engagementwithin the well pipe, means on the collet for maintaining the expansiblesupport means in retracted inoperative position while lowering thecarrier, collet and flow control device into position in the well pipe,downward movement of the collet being arrested by engagement of the lugswith the shoulder, and continued downward movement of the carrierserving to break said first frangible means and to release theexpansible support means from said collet, subsequent upward movement ofthe carrier serving lift the flow control device to permit itsexpansible support means to engage within the well pipe, and continueupward movement of the carrier serving to break said second frangiblemeans and permit withdrawal of the running-in tool upward from the wellpipe.

6. In a running-in tool for placing a flow control device in a sectionof pipe installed in a well, the pipe having an upward facing internalshoulder, the subcombination of: a carrier adapted to be lowered intothe well pipe, means whereby the carrier may be releasably secured to aflow control device, a collet encircling a portion of the carrier andhaving a series of axially extending spring fingers each having aportion adapted to engage the internal shoulder, means for releasablyconnecting said carrier to said collet, said collet having an invertedtapered bowl below said spring fingers, said how] being proportioned toreceive upper ends of similar spring fingers carrier upon the flowcontrol device to hole them in a retracted inoperative position.

7. The subcombination set forth in claim 6 in which frangible meansconnect the carrier to the collet.

8. The subcombination set forth in claim 6 in which frangible means areprovided for connecting the carrier to the flow control device.

1. In a running-in tool for placing a flow control device in a sectionof a pipe installed in a well, the pipe section having an upward facinginternal shoulder and an axially spaced internal recess, the improvementcomprising, in combination: a collet having a plurality of axiallyextending spring fingers, each of the spring fingers having a portionthereof adapted to engage and rest on the shoulder, a carrier extendingthrough the interior of the collet, an abutment on the carrierunderlying a portion of the collet, second releasable means connectingthe carrier to the collet, second releasable means connecting thecarrier to the flow control device, expansible support means on the flowcontrol device for engagement with the recess in the pipe section, meanson the collet for maintaining the expansible support means in retractedinoperative position while lowering the carrier, collet and flow controldevice into position in the well pipe, whereby downward movement of thecollet is arrested by engagement of the spring finger portions with theshoulder so that continued downward movement of the carrier releasessaid first releasable means, and disengages the expansible support meansfrom said collet, subsequent upward movement of the carrier serving tolift the flow control device to permit said expansible support means toengage within the recess in the pipe section, and continued upwardmovement of the carrier serving to release said second releasable meansand permit upward withdrawal of the running-in tool from the well pipe.2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the said firstreleasable means comprises a plurality of radially extending shear pinseach fixed on the collet and spring-loaded radially outwardly on saidcarrier.
 3. In a running-in tool for placing a flow control device in asection of a pipe installed in a well, the pipe section having an upwardfacing internal shoulder and an axially spaced internal recess, theimprovement comprising, in combination: a collet having a plurality ofupward extending spring fingers, each of the spring fingers having a lugadapted to engage and rest on the shoulder in the pipe section, acarrier extending through the interior of the collet, an abutment on thecarrier underlying a portion of the collet, first frangible meansconnecting the carrier to the collet, second frangible means connectingthe carrier to the flow control device, expansible support means on theflow control device for engagement with the recess in the pipe section,means on the collet for maintaining the expansible support means inretracted inoperative position while lowering the carrier, collet andflow control device into position in the well pipe, whereby downwardmovement of the collet is arrested by engagement of the lugs with theshoulder so that continued downward movement of the carrier breaks saidfirst frangible means and releases the expansible support means fromsaid collet, subsequent upward movement of the carrier serving to liftthe flow control device to permit said expansible support means toengage within the recess in the pipe section, and continued upwardmovement of the carrier serving to break said second frangible means andpermit withdrawal of the running-in tool upward from the well pipe. 4.The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the expansible supportmeans includes a circular series of spring fingers each having a lugportion engageable within the recess, certain of said spring fingers insaid series extending axially beyond their respective lug portions, thecollet having an inverted tapered bowl for confining the extendingportions of said spring fingers in said retracted inoperative position,and downward projecting elements on said collet extending below saidinverted bowl for contacting and maintaining certain others of saidspring fingers in said retrActed inoperative position.
 5. In arunning-in tool for placing a flow control device in a section of a pipeinstalled in a well, the pipe section having an upward facing internalshoulder, the improvement comprising, in combination: a collet having aplurality of upward extending spring fingers, each of the spring fingershaving a lug adapted to engage and rest on the shoulder in the pipesection, a carrier extending through the interior of the collet, anabutment on the carrier underlying a portion of the collet, firstfrangible means connecting the carrier to the collet, second frangiblemeans connecting the carrier to the flow control device, expansiblesupport means on the flow control device for engagement within the wellpipe, means on the collet for maintaining the expansible support meansin retracted inoperative position while lowering the carrier, collet andflow control device into position in the well pipe, downward movement ofthe collet being arrested by engagement of the lugs with the shoulder,and continued downward movement of the carrier serving to break saidfirst frangible means and to release the expansible support means fromsaid collet, subsequent upward movement of the carrier serving to liftthe flow control device to permit its expansible support means to engagewithin the well pipe, and continued upward movement of the carrierserving to break said second frangible means and permit withdrawal ofthe running-in tool upward from the well pipe.
 6. In a running-in toolfor placing a flow control device in a section of pipe installed in awell, the pipe having an upward facing internal shoulder, thesubcombination of: a carrier adapted to be lowered into the well pipe,means whereby the carrier may be releasably secured to a flow controldevice, a collet encircling a portion of the carrier and having a seriesof axially extending spring fingers each having a portion adapted toengage the internal shoulder, means for releasably connecting saidcarrier to said collet, said collet having an inverted tapered bowlbelow said spring fingers, said bowl being proportioned to receive upperends of similar spring fingers carried upon the flow control device tohole them in a retracted inoperative position.
 7. The subcombination setforth in claim 6 in which frangible means connect the carrier to thecollet.
 8. The subcombination set forth in claim 6 in which frangiblemeans are provided for connecting the carrier to the flow controldevice.